Every six years we need to revise our entire electoral roll for the church. By law we need to wipe everyone off and start again. Forms (pale yellow!) are now available at the back of the church. If you wish to be on the Electoral Roll, please could you take and complete one, and return it to the Vicarage by 2nd April.

APCM—the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

This will be held 25th April 2019, 7 for 7.30 pm, held in St Thomas’. Please put this date in your diaries now!

HEART - Sunday 24th February

4pm - 6pm

Heart 4 Rudloe meets on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, between 4pm and 6pm, and everyone of any age is welcome (children must bring an adult to look after them). The afternoon includes craft, tea drinking and Lego building. This is followed by prayer, story and songs. We round off the afternoon with some food (a light meal).

This activity is free, and is being run as part of the work of the Church of England in Box Parish. Please do come along and join us as we make, pray and eat in the MOD Corsham Community Centre on Leafy Lane.

TOAST - 24th February !!

A fun youth group that meets in St Thomas à Becket every two weeks usually, between 6pm and 7.30pm. Toast is a group for Year 6 and above. We enjoy creatively exploring the Christian faith and eating plenty of food to keep us going! Please contact a member of Clergy, one of the leaders, or just come along to find out more. Our leaders at TOAST are:

Rev Clair Southgate Tel: 01225 743970

Ian MacKenzie Tel: 01225 744458

Quiet Waters (Valens Terrace) Home Group

This week we’re continuing our study of Romans. We start at 8pm (with coffee and cake available beforehand) and everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Angela on 07835 812258 or Jamie on 07427 493422.

Easter Eggs!

The Community of the Sisters of the Church will be collecting Easter Eggs to distribute and would love contributions. James will be taking the eggs we donate to the Sisters in the week beginning 8th April, and obviously would like to take them as many as possible! Contributions can be left at the back of the church, where food donations are left.

Giving via credit/ debit card

Following a very successful trial at the carol service, a credit/debit card terminal will be set up just inside the door for all the main services (ie 1030 on Sundays, funerals and weddings etc) so that donations to the church can be made via credit card, either Contactless or using your PIN number, according to preference.

** Save the Date! **

Janet will be giving a talk about her sabbatical on three separate occasions during the first full week of Lent:

Every six years we need to revise our entire electoral roll for the church. By law we need to wipe everyone off and start again. Forms (pale yellow!) are now available at the back of the church. If you wish to be on the Electoral Roll, please could you take and complete one, and return it to the Vicarage by 2nd April.

APCM—the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

This will be held 25th April 2019, 7 for 7.30 pm, held in St Thomas’. Please put this date in your diaries now!

Heart 4 Rudloe meets on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, between 4pm and 6pm, and everyone of any age is welcome (children must bring an adult to look after them). The afternoon includes craft, tea drinking and Lego building. This is followed by prayer, story and songs. We round off the afternoon with some food (a light meal).

This activity is free, and is being run as part of the work of the Church of England in Box Parish. Please do come along and join us as we make, pray and eat in the MOD Corsham Community Centre on Leafy Lane.

James Symons is visiting the Sisters Monday 18th, so it would be good if he could take some donations of food (tins, packets, there’s a list of suggestions available) to support their work in Bristol.

Also ………Easter Eggs! The Sisters will be collecting Easter Eggs to distribute and would love contributions. James will be taking the eggs we donate to the Sisters in the week beginning 8th April, and obviously would like to take them as many as possible! Contributions can be left at the back of the church, where food donations are left.

Giving via credit card

Following a very successful trial at the carol service, a credit card terminal will be set up just inside the door for all the main services (ie 1030 on Sundays, funerals and weddings etc) so that donations to the church can be made via credit card, either Contactless or using your PIN number, according to preference.

Training for the Contactless Giving Terminal

There will be a short training session for all sides persons on how to set up the credit card giving terminal for services. This will be at 10 am on Sunday 17th February i.e. before the start of the service. Anyone unable to attend can contact Elle Symons on 07825 577300 to arrange an alternative training session.

Every six years we need to revise our entire electoral roll for the church. By law we need to wipe everyone off and start again. We will have forms available from Sunday and need them to be signed and dated for the official return period, which will be advised.

APCM—the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

This will be held 25th April 2019, 7 for 7.30 pm, held in St Thomas’. Please put this date in your diaries now!

If you might be able to come along and help, for all or even part of the session, please let Janet know.

Training for the Contactless Giving Terminal

There will be a short training session for all sides persons on how to set up the credit card giving terminal for services. This will be at 10 am on Sunday 17th February i.e. before the start of the service. Anyone unable to attend can contact Elle Symons on 07825 577300 to arrange an alternative training session.

Quiet Waters (Valens Terrace) Home Group

We have now begun to study Romans! We start at 8pm (with coffee and cake available beforehand) and everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Angela on 07835 812258 or Jamie on 07427 493422. (NB Not meeting this Thursday, 14th)

Taking down the Christmas candles

There will be a working party at 10am on Sat 9 Feb to take down the Christmas candles. Any and all help would be much appreciated. That is the first Saturday after the Feast of Candlemass.

Giving via credit card

Following a very successful trial at the carol service, a credit card terminal will be set up just inside the door for all the main services (ie 1030 on Sundays, funerals and weddings etc) so that donations to the church can be made via credit card, either Contactless or using your PIN number, according to preference.

Mid-week Services

If you would like to come to church but can’t come on a Sunday or would find a shorter service more comfortable for health or other issues, please remember you are always welcome at the Wednesday 10.30am service of Holy Communion, or you are welcome to join with one of the Nursing Home communions at Bybrook House or Brunel House. Please contact Janet or Clair for more details.

Every six years we need to revise our entire electoral roll for the church. By law we need to wipe everyone off and start again. We will have forms available from next week and need them to be signed and dated for the official return period, which will be advised.

APCM—the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

This will be held 25th April 2019, 7 for 7.30 pm, held in St Thomas’. Please put this date in your diaries now!

Burns Night

Many thanks to all who supported Burns Night, and huge thanks to John and Alison, and her sister Marilyn, for an absolutely exception meal. The evening raised £899.

If you might be able to come along and help, for all or even part of the session, please let Janet know.

Quiet Waters (Valens Terrace) Home Group

We are currently taking a few weeks to revisit and review aspects of the Bible Course studied last year - then we’re embarking on Romans! We start at 8pm (with coffee and cake available beforehand :) ) and everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Angela on 07835 812258 or Jamie on 07427 493422.

Taking down the Christmas candles

There will be a working party at 10am on Sat 9 Feb to take down the Christmas candles. Any and all help would be much appreciated. That is the first Saturday after the Feast of Candlemass.

Giving via credit card

Following a very successful trial at the carol service, a credit card terminal will be set up just inside the door for all the main services (ie 1030 on Sundays, funerals and weddings etc) so that donations to the church can be made via credit card, either Contactless or using your PIN number, according to preference.

Mid-week Services

If you would like to come to church but can’t come on a Sunday or would find a shorter service more comfortable for health or other issues, please remember you are always welcome at the Wednesday 10.30am service of Holy Communion, or you are welcome to join with one of the Nursing Home communions at Bybrook House or Brunel House. Please contact Janet or Clair for more details.

Heart 4 Rudloe meets on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, between 4pm and 6pm, and everyone of any age is welcome (children must bring an adult to look after them). The afternoon includes craft, tea drinking and Lego building. This is followed by prayer, story and songs. We round off the afternoon with some food (a light meal).

This activity is free, and is being run as part of the work of the Church of England in Box Parish. Please do come along and join us as we make, pray and eat in the MOD Corsham Community Centre on Leafy Lane.

HELP with HEART in the New Year would be greatly appreciated. If you are able to help with the washing up, just once or twice a year even, we would love to hear from you. An extra pair of hands would make a huge difference. Please call Janet 744458 if you are able to help in this way. Thank you.

TOAST meets on the second and fourth Sunday of the month.

A fun youth group that meets in St Thomas à Becket every two weeks usually, between 6pm and 7.30pm. Toast is a group for Year 6 and above. We enjoy creatively exploring the Christian faith and eating plenty of food to keep us going! Please contact a member of Clergy, one of the leaders, or just come along to find out more. Our leaders at TOAST are:

We are currently taking a few weeks to revisit and review aspects of the Bible Course studied last year - then we’re embarking on Romans! We start at 8pm (with coffee and cake available beforehand :) ) and everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Angela on 07835 812258 or Jamie on 07427 493422.

Taking down the Christmas candles

There will be a working party at 10am on Sat 9 Feb to take down the Christmas candles. Any and all help would be much appreciated. That is the first Saturday after the Feast of Candlemass.

Giving via credit card

Following a very successful trial at the carol service, a credit card terminal will be set up just inside the door for all the main services (ie 1030 on Sundays, funerals and weddings etc) so that donations to the church can be made via credit card, either Contactless or using your PIN number, according to preference.

Mid-week Services

If you would like to come to church but can’t come on a Sunday or would find a shorter service more comfortable for health or other issues, please remember you are always welcome at the Wednesday 10.30am service of Holy Communion, or you are welcome to join with one of the Nursing Home communions at Bybrook House or Brunel House. Please contact Janet or Clair for more details.

A fabulous haggis supper and the usual mildly chaotic dancing are included in the ticket price, which is £18 for adults and £7 for children. A vegetarian alternative can be arranged, but please advise of this and any other special dietary requirements when booking the tickets. There is a cash bar.

This is dancing for those with two left feet and no previous experience of ceilidhs. No Scottish blood or previous experience needed, but a sense of humour is vital!!

Tickets can be booked at the Vicarage office on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning, 744458, or from Charles Freeman 744155. The adult tickets are £18 each and the child tickets £7 each. Payment can be made directly, stating Burns Night and whom the payment is from to:

Alternatively, a cheque made out to St Thomas a Becket Church can be dropped off at Box Vicarage, as can cash. In both cases, please state clearly Burns Night and whom the payment is from.

Prayer for Christian Unity

Please drop in to Box Methodist Church on Saturday 19th January 3-5pm to spend some minutes thinking and praying for our world. There’ll be music, readings and silence

Quiet Waters (Valens Terrace) Home Group

We are currently taking a few weeks to revisit and review aspects of the Bible Course studied last year - then we’re embarking on Romans! We start at 8pm (with coffee and cake available beforehand :) ) and everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Angela on 07835 812258 or Jamie on 07427 493422.

Taking down the Christmas candles

There will be a working party at 10am on Sat 9 Feb to take down the Christmas candles. Any and all help would be much appreciated. That is the first Saturday after the Feast of Candlemass.

Giving via credit card

Following a very successful trial at the carol service, a credit card terminal will be set up just inside the door for all the main services (ie 1030 on Sundays, funerals and weddings etc) so that donations to the church can be made via credit card, either Contactless or using your PIN number, according to preference.

Mid-week Services

If you would like to come to church but can’t come on a Sunday or would find a shorter service more comfortable for health or other issues, please remember you are always welcome at the Wednesday 10.30am service of Holy Communion, or you are welcome to join with one of the Nursing Home communions at Bybrook House or Brunel House. Please contact Janet or Clair for more details.

A fabulous haggis supper and the usual mildly chaotic dancing are included in the ticket price, which is £18 for adults and £7 for children. A vegetarian alternative can be arranged, but please advise of this and any other special dietary requirements when booking the tickets. There is a cash bar.

This is dancing for those with two left feet and no previous experience of ceilidhs. No Scottish blood or previous experience needed, but a sense of humour is vital!!

Tickets can be booked at the Vicarage office on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning, 744458, or from Charles Freeman 744155. The adult tickets are £18 each and the child tickets £7 each. Payment can be made directly, stating Burns Night and whom the payment is from to:

HELP with HEART in the New Year would be greatly appreciated. If you are able to help with the washing up, just once or twice a year even, we would love to hear from you. An extra pair of hands would make a huge difference. Please call Janet 744458 if you are able to help in this way. Thank you.

Heart 4 Rudloe meets on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, between 4pm and 6pm, and everyone of any age is welcome (children must bring an adult to look after them). The afternoon includes craft, tea drinking and Lego building. This is followed by prayer, story and songs. We round off the afternoon with some food (a light meal).

This activity is free, and is being run as part of the work of the Church of England in Box Parish. Please do come along and join us as we make, pray and eat in the MOD Corsham Community Centre on Leafy Lane.

Prayer for Christian Unity

Please drop in to Box Methodist Church on Saturday 19th January 3-5pm to spend some minutes thinking and praying for our world. There’ll be music, readings and silence

The Craft Club is back in 2019

Everyone is very welcome to the Craft Club that meets in the Methodist Church once a month. No need to be a member of either congregation - you can dip in and out according to interest.The next date for your diary is Thursday 17 January, from 10am-12, when our theme will be Needle Felting.

A fun youth group that meets in St Thomas à Becket every two weeks usually, between 6pm and 7.30pm. Toast is a group for Year 6 and above. We enjoy creatively exploring the Christian faith and eating plenty of food to keep us going! Please contact a member of Clergy, one of the leaders, or just come along to find out more. Our leaders at TOAST are:

A fabulous haggis supper and the usual mildly chaotic dancing are included in the ticket price, which is £18 for adults and £7 for children. A vegetarian alternative can be arranged, but please advise of this and any other special dietary requirements when booking the tickets. There is a cash bar.

This is dancing for those with two left feet and no previous experience of ceilidhs. No Scottish blood or previous experience needed, but a sense of humour is vital!!

Tickets can be booked at the Vicarage office on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning, 744458, or from Charles Freeman 744155. The adult tickets are £18 each and the child tickets £7 each. Payment can be made directly, statingBurns Night and whom the payment is from to:

HELP with HEART in the New Year would be greatly appreciated. If you are able to help with the washing up, just once or twice a year even, we would love to hear from you. An extra pair of hands would make a huge difference. Please call Janet 744458 if you are able to help in this way. Thank you.

Heart 4 Rudloe meets on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, between 4pm and 6pm, and everyone of any age is welcome (children must bring an adult to look after them). The afternoon includes craft, tea drinking and Lego building. This is followed by prayer, story and songs. We round off the afternoon with some food (a light meal).

This activity is free, and is being run as part of the work of the Church of England in Box Parish. Please do come along and join us as we make, pray and eat in the MOD Corsham Community Centre on Leafy Lane.

Mid-week Services

If you would like to come to church but can’t come on a Sunday or would find a shorter service more comfortable for health or other issues, please remember you are always welcome at the Wednesday 10.30am service of Holy Communion, or you are welcome to join with one of the Nursing Home communions at Bybrook House or Brunel House. Please contact Janet or Clair for more details.

Prayer for Christian Unity

Please drop in to Box Methodist Church on Saturday 19th January 3-5pm to spend some minutes thinking and praying for our world. There’ll be music, readings and silence

A fun youth group that meets in St Thomas à Becket every two weeks usually, between 6pm and 7.30pm. Toast is a group for Year 6 and above. We enjoy creatively exploring the Christian faith and eating plenty of food to keep us going! Please contact a member of Clergy, one of the leaders, or just come along to find out more. Our leaders at TOAST are:

Lord God, who gave grace to your servant Thomas Becket to put aside all earthly fear and be faithful even to death:

grant that we, disregarding worldly esteem, may fight all wrong, uphold your rule, and serve you to our life’s end;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Please pray for those who are ill

John Sumner, Olwen Trefor-Roberts, Freddy Connolly

We remember those whom we know,

who are suffering in sickness or adversity,

and those who especially need our prayers at this time,

Also the families of those who have died

Ted Jolly

A Big Christmas Thank You…..

to everyone who has contributed to our services over this Christmas season, worked tirelessly during Advent and Christmas to make it such a special time for us all.

The Church has looked, sounded and smelt stunning, decorated with candles and flowers and blessed with music and singing—as well as the mulled wine and mince pies!

Thank you so much to everyone who has a hand in this.

Patronal Festival - 30th December

Everyone is warmly invited to our Patronal Festival at 10.30am. The service will be Holy Communion, followed by a Bring and Share lunch. RSVP (for lunch) to Revd Dr Janet Anderson-MacKenzie 744458 or janet@anderson-mackenzie.co.uk

St Thomas’ Nativity

The St Thomas’ Nativity will take place at 4 pm on Christmas Eve in church. If you can help be Sidesperson for this service it would be greatly appreciated - please let Janet know.

The rehearsal will take place at 2 pm on Sunday 23rd, if you would like to take part, or help at the rehearsal please contact Clair.

Blue Christmas: a service of remembrance and hope

The ‘Service of Remembrance and Hope’ will take place in Box Methodist Church on Friday 21st December at 6.30 pm.

Rev Elizabeth Kirova will be leading the service this year.

Christmas can be a difficult time as we come to terms with the loss of a loved one, this service will give us time to pause reflect and remember those whom we love but see no more.

You may like to bring a symbol, or something to remind you of the person you come to remember, to place on the Christmas Tree for the duration of the service (you can retrieve it at the end of the service).

Many people find this service helpful.

Heart 4 Rudloe

Heart 4 Rudloe will meet again before Christmas at 4 pm on Sunday 23rd December. We will be having a DIY Nativity, followed by bring and share party food.

Please feel free to come along, especially dressed as a character form the Nativity, and an instant Nativity play will appear.

Giving to the Church through Legacies

Both StTaB and Chapel Plaister have benefited in recent years from a number of generous gifts given in Wills, not least a substantial bequest which helped us to achieve the "TeePee" work. Amongst other advantages of giving this way, one has use of the money throughout your lifetime! Anybody writing a Will should of course consult a solicitor but a certain amount of guidance and information is produced by the Church of England, and a selection of relevant guides has been placed in StTaB. Further information is available atwww.churchlegacy.org.uk/churchlegacyservice .

Please remember that the Wednesday morningservice this week is at 11am and will be followed by the lunch for the regulars for that congregation.

Giving to the Church through Legacies

Both StTaB and Chapel Plaister have benefited in recent years from a number of generous gifts given in Wills, not least a substantial bequest which helped us to achieve the "TeePee" work. Amongst other advantages of giving this way, one has use of the money throughout your lifetime! Anybody writing a Will should of course consult a solicitor but a certain amount of guidance and information is produced by the Church of England, and a selection of relevant guides has been placed in StTaB. Further information is available atwww.churchlegacy.org.uk/churchlegacyservice .

Christmas can be a difficult time as we come to terms with the loss of a loved one, this service will give us time to pause reflect and remember those whom we love but see no more.

You may like to bring a symbol, or something to remind you of the person you come to remember, to place on the Christmas Tree for the duration of the service (you can retrieve it at the end of the service).